ANSWER GUIDE SPIRITUALITY OF PAUL A ministry of the Diocese of Little Rock in partnership with Liturgical Press
LESSON 1 Introduction: Context for Exploring Paul s Spirituality 1. Answers will vary. 2. There are thirteen letters attributed to Paul in the New Testament, and he is the central figure of much of Acts (written by Luke). Taken together, Paul is central to practically half the New Testament. 3. Paul s transforming experience on the road to Damascus. 4. A question for discussion. 5. Modern spirituality is often defined as whatever approach to life brings a sense of personal well-being and human growth. Christian spirituality is dependent on the Holy Spirit transforming the human spirit. 6. The first human received the breath of life when God breathed into him. The Hebrew word for breath (ruach) is also the word for spirit. 7. Schneiders defines spirituality as the experience of consciously striving to integrate one s life in terms of self-transcendence toward one s ultimate value. 8. To have a Christian spirituality, we must have our life and experiences animated and interpreted by the person and message of Christ. 9. Answers will vary. 10. The first moment is an experience of an encounter with Jesus Christ that marks a turning point in one s life. The second moment occurs as a result of reflection, which is the endeavor to make sense of the encounter. The third moment is called prolongation, which might also be called application, in that it involves the living out and communication of the experience of one s encounter with Christ and the understanding of what such an experience means. 11. Paul wanted to bring about a faith response. A faith response is more than simple belief, it involves responding faithfully, that is, 3
living faithfully according to the spiritual vision conveyed in Paul s letters. 12. The passage in Philippians describes Jesus own humble response to being found human. By offering the Philippians a spiritual vision of humble service focused on the example of Jesus, Paul hoped to lead his readers to faithful lives of humble service to one another. 13. Paul was an Israelite who grew up outside of Israel. This made him deeply familiar with both the Greek-speaking culture of the Roman Empire as well as the Jewish culture outside Israel (the diaspora). 14. The search for believers to integrate life though the spiritual vision of those biblical writings that witness to an encounter with God in the person of Jesus and the response required by their transformed life. 15. Answers will vary. 16. Paul seeks to have us see that God s grace transforms every human weakness in those who are open and responsive to God s gracefilled initiative. 17. Paul presents Adam as the source of death that has afflicted all humankind, but in Christ God s saving grace is now offered to all who believe. 18. Hartin suggests that Paul s spirituality gives us the assurance that our journey of life is a journey with Christ and to Christ, so that we can face the future with confidence and joy. This question will be addressed once again at the end of the study. LESSON 2 Chapter 1: Paul s Call and Mission 1. The first question of each succeeding lesson will always invite participants to do some reflection on their experience with the previous lesson. 2. Paul s context provides an initial level of meaning from where we can begin to see how his spirituality speaks to us centuries later. 4
3. Growing up Jewish in a Greek-speaking city of the Roman Empire, Paul was familiar with three distinct cultures and could speak both Greek and Aramaic (similar to Hebrew). This would assist him greatly as an apostle of a Jewish Messiah to the Greek-speaking Gentiles of the Roman Empire. 4. He believed Jesus followers distorted the religious traditions and heritage of Israel. 5. Apostle means one who is sent. Paul was an apostle because he was called by Christ and sent on a mission to bring faith in Jesus to the Gentiles. 6. Barnabas, who actually headed the mission, went with Paul by ship to Cyprus and then on to Asia Minor (modern day Turkey), where they visited the cities of Attalia, Perga, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. 7. The Council of Jerusalem decided that Gentile converts need not undergo circumcision. 8. Timothy was a young convert from Lystra, the child of a Jewish mother and Gentile father, whom Paul circumcised because of his parentage. Paul was assisted by Timothy throughout his ministry, and it is to him that the Pauline letters of First and Second Timothy are addressed. 9. While in the Asia Minor city of Troas, Paul had a vision in the night (a dream?) of a Macedonian (a European) standing before him and imploring him to come to Macedonia and help them. Soon after, Paul crossed over to Europe and made his way to the Macedonian city of Philippi. 10. It reveals Paul as one completely dedicated to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ through much of the Roman Empire. 11. Answers will vary. 12. Baptism is a saving encounter with Christ, the light of the world. 13. In baptism, every Christian receives the call to be a messenger of the good news of Jesus Christ. 14. Conversion can be understood as an act of the human person who makes major changes in the direction of his/her life. While Paul certainly did this, Paul places the emphasis on God s action, God s direction, in calling Paul to be an apostle. Also, conversion 5